Upcoming training sessions to focus on synod goals

The Archdiocese of New Orleans will offer training sessions in upcoming weeks for parishioners involved with the implementation of the archdiocesan synod’s priorities and goals, said John Smestad Jr., director of the Office of Pastoral Planning and Ministries.
The archdiocese has a schedule for regional meetings for synod implementation coordinators, pastors, clergy and any other parishioners who may be involved in the synod implementation within the parish.

The next parish synod implementation coordinator meetings will be Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. at St. Margaret Mary, Slidell; and Dec. 10 at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Chalmette.

Smestad said parishes can contact him with the names and contact information of the persons appointed to serve as the contact persons or coordinators in the following four areas of the synod: evangelization, vocations, social justice and marriage/family life. Smestad can be contacted atplanningandministries@arch-no.org.

The archdiocese will host the following parish marriage/family life ministry trainings for parish family life ministry coordinators and any other parishioners interested in this area. This is an initial training and orientation. The archdiocesan Family Life Apostolate will offer further formation opportunities throughout 2017.

Each parish marriage/family life ministry session is the same and will run from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.: Dec. 6, St. Mary Magdalen, Metairie; Dec. 15, St. Dominic, New Orleans; Jan. 11, 2017, Mary Queen of Peace, Mandeville; Feb. 13, Immaculate Conception, Marrero; Feb. 17, St. Charles Borromeo, Destrehan.

Catholic Charities Office of Justice and Peace is offering the following training sessions for parish social justice ministry coordinators and any additional parishioners interested in the synod goals of social justice.

Each social justice session is the same and will run from 6 to 8 p.m.: Dec. 1, St. Luke the Evangelist, Slidell; Jan. 5, 2017, Holy Spirit, Algiers; Jan. 10, Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Chalmette; Jan. 12, Corpus Christi-Epiphany, New Orleans. Additional training sessions will be held in 2017 at locations in New Orleans East, Luling, Uptown New Orleans, Mandeville and the Harvey/Marrero area.

The Archdiocesan Vocations Office will offer the following training sessions for parish vocation ministry coordinators and any additional parishioners interested in the synod’s vocation goals. More formation opportunities will be offered in 2017.

Each session is the same and will run from 7 to 8:30 p.m.: Dec. 7, Blessed Trinity, New Orleans; Dec. 14, St. Luke the Evangelist, Slidell; Jan. 9, 2017, Mary Queen of Peace, Mandeville; Jan. 11, St. Joan of Arc, LaPlace; Jan. 18, St. Andrew the Apostle, Algiers.

Parish evangelization ministry trainings will be offered by the archdiocesan Office of Evangelization. Parish evangelization ministry coordinators and any other parishioners interested in evangelization may attend.

Each session is the same and will last from 7 to 8:30 p.m.: Jan. 31, 2017, St. Dominic, New Orleans (Siena Room); Feb. 8, Mary Queen of Peace, Mandeville (cafeteria). Additional training dates in 2017 for evangelization coordinators will be published soon.